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Scale, technical question

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Scale, technical question
Posted by traindaddy1 on Saturday, January 13, 2024 8:16 PM

Hello: Often heard when it comes to scale: "It's your layout, use what looks right to you" That being said, when using figures (people) that measure 1.5 inches tall, what scale vehicles would be the most realistic looking?  As always, many thanks.

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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, January 13, 2024 8:29 PM

A 1.5" figure in O scale would be 6' tall.

In HO scale, the figure would be 10.875' tall.

Rich

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Posted by traindaddy1 on Saturday, January 13, 2024 9:02 PM

Rich: I understand about the real height of the figures. My question was about the vehicles (cars, trucks etc.) Thanks.

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Posted by MidlandMike on Saturday, January 13, 2024 9:46 PM

Vehicles in 1/50 scale are close to O scale 1/48.

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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, January 13, 2024 10:06 PM

traindaddy1

Rich: I understand about the real height of the figures. My question was about the vehicles (cars, trucks etc.) Thanks.

 

Well, if the figures are O scale, then you would need O scale cars and trucks.

Rich

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Posted by traindaddy1 on Sunday, January 14, 2024 7:39 AM

Mike: That's what I was looking for. 1/50 Thank you.

 

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, January 14, 2024 9:27 AM

For the benefit of others who may be interested in the different popular scales,

N scale = 1:160

HO scale = 1:87

O scale = 1:48

These are U.S. scales. The scales may differ somewhat in other countries.

Rich

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Posted by DanRaitz on Sunday, January 14, 2024 9:47 AM

You could also use 1/43 scale vehicles.

 

Dan

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, January 14, 2024 10:21 AM

traindaddy1

That being said, when using figures (people) that measure 1.5 inches tall, what scale...

I'm not sure why the topic of scale interests me so much, but for others who share my curiosity, a 6' tall figure would be:
 
N scale - Just under 1/2" (0.45)
 
HO scale - Just over 3/4" (0.8275)
 
O scale - 1.5"
 
Rich

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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Sunday, January 14, 2024 11:50 AM

S scale - 1.125" (1 1/8)

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Posted by kasskaboose on Sunday, January 14, 2024 11:57 AM

Nothing wrong w/ mixing different scales to create depth, as Paul Dolkos told me and had in an article. In other words, have HO near the front and N toward the back.

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Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, January 14, 2024 12:23 PM

Do you ever feel like your an O scale person in a HO scale world? Or maybe an N scale person in an O scale world?  How about an N scale person, with an O scale glass of bourbon?  

This scale thing is looking better all the time, yep, it sure is.

Waiting for the Packer game.

Mike.

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, January 14, 2024 3:18 PM

mbinsewi

Do you ever feel like your an O scale person in a HO scale world? Or maybe an N scale person in an O scale world?  How about an N scale person, with an O scale glass of bourbon?  

This scale thing is looking better all the time, yep, it sure is.

Waiting for the Packer game.

Mike.

 

You're a man after my own heart, Mike. 

The Pack and an Old Fashioned!

I'm gonna need some cheese before game time.

Rich

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Posted by BroadwayLion on Monday, January 15, 2024 5:56 AM

richhotrain

For the benefit of others who may be interested in the different popular scales,

N scale = 1:160

HO scale = 1:87

O scale = 1:48

These are U.S. scales. The scales may differ somewhat in other countries.

Rich

 

 

My FISH has scales!

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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, January 15, 2024 7:42 AM

BroadwayLion

 

 
richhotrain

For the benefit of others who may be interested in the different popular scales,

N scale = 1:160

HO scale = 1:87

O scale = 1:48

These are U.S. scales. The scales may differ somewhat in other countries.

Rich

 

 

 

 

 

My FISH has scales!

 

Does it use them to weigh worms?

Rich

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Posted by maxman on Monday, January 15, 2024 7:45 AM

No. When fish are hooked they step on their scales to try to get a weigh.

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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, January 15, 2024 8:05 AM

maxman

No. When fish are hooked they step on their scales to try to get a weigh. 

How much does a fish scale weigh?

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Posted by maxman on Monday, January 15, 2024 3:46 PM

richhotrain

 maxman

No. When fish are hooked they step on their scales to try to get a weigh. 

 

 

How much does a fish scale weigh?

 

Not certain, but probably less than a henneway.

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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, January 15, 2024 4:28 PM

maxman

 

 
richhotrain

 maxman

No. When fish are hooked they step on their scales to try to get a weigh. 

 

 

How much does a fish scale weigh?

 

 

 

Not certain, but probably less than a henneway.

 

Everyone knows that there is no way to weigh a henneway, at least not right away. Only a wronga way.

Rich

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Posted by BEAUSABRE on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 8:32 AM

kasskaboose
Nothing wrong w/ mixing different scales to create depth, as Paul Dolkos told me and had in an article. In other words, have HO near the front and N toward the back.

FYI, it's known as "forced perspective"

 

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Posted by wjstix on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 4:18 PM

traindaddy1

Mike: That's what I was looking for. 1/50 Thank you.

 

In the US, we use 1:48 scale for O scale, meaning 1/4" = 1 ft. So 1:50 vehicles work fine. However, be aware you may find that more 1:43 scale vehicles are available than 1:50.

Seems like many "O scale" model cars and trucks are from Europe (Germany for example). In Europe, where they prefer the metric scale, they use 7mm = 1 ft., or 1:43 scale, for O scale. 

BTW the actual "correct" O scale is 1:45, or 17/64ths = 1 foot. 

Stix
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Posted by richhotrain on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 4:54 PM

wjstix

 

 
traindaddy1

Mike: That's what I was looking for. 1/50 Thank you.

 

 

In the US, we use 1:48 scale for O scale, meaning 1/4" = 1 ft. So 1:50 vehicles work fine. However, be aware you may find that more 1:43 scale vehicles are available than 1:50.

Seems like many "O scale" model cars and trucks are from Europe (Germany for example). In Europe, where they prefer the metric scale, they use 7mm = 1 ft., or 1:43 scale, for O scale. 

 

BTW the actual "correct" O scale is 1:45, or 17/64ths = 1 foot. 

 

It is interesting when you look at the packaging for small scale vehicles. Often, the labeling includes not only the alphabetic scale (e.g., O scale) but also the numeric ratio (e.g., 1:50).

Rich

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Posted by Pauley on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 6:24 PM

I use forced persepctive quite a bit. On my main layout which is mostly HO, I use N as well as a few pieces in Z off in the distance.

The great thing about this approach is that even if pieces are of no particular scale (i.e. kit-bashed buildings, misc. vehicles found at the swap meet, etc.) there is a place of them.

If you're a beginner who found your way here, check out the web site below.

 

BEAUSABRE
kasskaboose
Nothing wrong w/ mixing different scales to create depth, as Paul Dolkos told me and had in an article. In other words, have HO near the front and N toward the back.

FYI, it's known as "forced perspective"

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Posted by traindaddy1 on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 9:09 PM

To all who replied: Enjoyed the humor and the information. Thank you.

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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 7:49 AM

traindaddy1

To all who replied: Enjoyed the humor and the information. Thank you.

 

Good to hear back from you. 

Rich 

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Posted by wjstix on Thursday, January 18, 2024 11:26 AM

richhotrain
It is interesting when you look at the packaging for small scale vehicles. Often, the labeling includes not only the alphabetic scale (e.g., O scale) but also the numeric ratio (e.g., 1:50).

I think the terms we use like HO and N are more directly model railroad related. People who collect model cars I believe think of them more as "1:87" models rather than "HO" models. I had a friend who collected 1:64 scale fire fighting equipment models. When I said "Oh, you're in S scale", he didn't know what I was talking about.

BTW "O" scale started out as Marklin's "0 gauge", the number zero rather than the letter O. Marklin electric trains used numbers, originally I believe 1-4, with No.1 (now often called "G gauge") being the smallest and No.4 the largest. When they created a gauge smaller than No.1, they had to call it '0 gauge'. Over time it became the letter O. When a gauge half as big was created, it was "Half O"..."HO".

Stix
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Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, January 18, 2024 11:54 AM

wjstix

I had a friend who collected 1:64 scale fire fighting equipment models. When I said "Oh, you're in S scale", he didn't know what I was talking about.

LOL.  I love that.  Laugh

Rich

Alton Junction

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